What songwriting books have you read?

[TaoManna Don]

I have noticed that many of the lyrics that get posted and many of the questions that are asked here don't seem to have had the benefit of a basic understanding of songwriting. As I have suggested in an earlier thread, most new songwriters are quite protective of their songs and good advice often goes unheeded. I have also noticed conflicting and confusing advice given here at times.

If you are really interested in improving your craft, you need to do a little reading. There are dozens of books on songwriting out there. You will be a much better judge of your work and the value of advice you get from others if you get some good informative reading under your belt first.

And so, my question: What books have you read? Which were the most useful? A book called "The Craft Of Lyric Writing", written back in the 1980's I think, is a great place to start. It was written by Sheila Davis and is still in print.

What are some other good books for new songwriters?

Keep writing,
Don

 

[Aaron Cheney]

Bar none, my favorite book for lyrics is "Writing Better Lyrics" by Pat Pattison. I've also read some Jason Blume and like his philosophy a lot. I've read some of the Pamela oland books and there is some good stuff but she gets a little too touchy-feely for me and tends to dwell on "getting in touch with your characters" and such. I've read tons of others by various authors... too many to list.
I'm thinking about writing my own this year. In preparing for the upcoming songwriting class I'm teaching I have prepared plenty of material anyway, and it's already in outline form. Might as well turn it into a book. I'll probably ask of few of you guys to look it over for me once it's done. Game?

A
www.aaroncheney.com

 

[philboyd studge]

There are books?


Who knew.

 

[Gidge]

"Six Steps To Songwriting Success" by Jason Blume is awesome if you want to learn to write from a commercial standpoint......

"The Craft of Lyric Writing" by Sheila Davis went really deep and was very helpful......

"88 Songwriting Wrongs and How To Right Them" I picked up a few things from but Id rate it as very average.......

next on my list is:

"Tunesmith" by Jimmy Webb

"Writing Better Lyrics" by Pat Pattison

"Successful Lyric Writing" by Sheila Davis

 

[Garry Sharp]

My favourite is Rikki Rooksby's "Writing songs on Guitar" (or something similar.

I read "Tunesmith" and didn't like it; I felt that he was too busy trying to prove what a good (prose) writer he is (the "look mum, I'm writing" syndrome) but this is a very subjective view.

 

[jimistone]

I think "tunesmith" is a great book

The Sheila Davis book is great too.

 

[stonepiano]

I think "tunesmith" is a great book

The Sheila Davis book is great too.

I would echo jimistone's sentiments exactly. Same two books.

 

[tdukex]

I have noticed that many of the lyrics that get posted and many of the questions that are asked here don't seem to have had the benefit of a basic understanding of songwriting. As I have suggested in an earlier thread, most new songwriters are quite protective of their songs and good advice often goes unheeded. I have also noticed conflicting and confusing advice given here at times.

If you are really interested in improving your craft, you need to do a little reading. There are dozens of books on songwriting out there. You will be a much better judge of your work and the value of advice you get from others if you get some good informative reading under your belt first.

And so, my question: What books have you read? Which were the most useful? A book called "The Craft Of Lyric Writing", written back in the 1980's I think, is a great place to start. It was written by Sheila Davis and is still in print.

What are some other good books for new songwriters?

Keep writing,
Don

You make excellent points, Don.

I've read or am in the process of reading most of the same books Gidge has read or is reading and agree with his assessments (my comments in parenthesis):

"Six Steps To Songwriting Success" by Jason Blume is awesome if you want to learn to write from a commercial standpoint.... (Yup)

"The Craft of Lyric Writing" by Sheila Davis went really deep and was very helpful... (I have this and the companion workbook but haven't read yet.)

"88 Songwriting Wrongs and How To Right Them" I picked up a few things from but Id rate it as very average....... (agreed)

"Tunesmith" by Jimmy Webb (maybe the most passionate and deep song writing book ever written).

"Writing Better Lyrics" by Pat Pattison ( I haven't read this one)

"Successful Lyric Writing" by Sheila Davis (Own but haven't read)

"The Craft and Business of Songwriting" by John Braheny (Good overall book--good primer)

 

[Sonic Misfit]

I have a pretty good selection of songwriting books and my current favorite is "Tunesmith." I will agree that is has some irritating moments, but it is the only book that has come out in a long time with a different approach.

If you are looking to market your material, see if you can find a copy of the book "Making and Marketing Music" by Jodi Summers.